Child education in Nigeria

CHILD EDUCATION

Compulsory and free universal basis act under the provisions of item 30 of part 11 of the second schedule and item 2 (a) of the fourth schedule to the 1999 constitution dealing with primary school education, states the federal government’s intervention under the act shall only be an assistance to states and local government in Nigeria for the purposes of uniform and qualification basis education throughout Nigeria.

By section 2 (1) of the Education Act states that every Government in Nigeria shall provide free compulsory and universal basis education for every child of primary and junior secondary school ager. Every parent shall ensure that his child or ward attends a complete his:

(a)          Primary school education and

(b)          Junior secondary school education by endeavoring to send the  child to primary and junior secondary schools .

(3)          The stakeholders in education in a local government Area, shall ensure that every percent or person who has the care and custody of a child performs the daily imposed on him under section 2 (2) of this Act.

(4)          A percent who contrancies   seeks 2 (2) of the Act comments an attends and is liable to:

(a)          On first conviction, to see reprimanded;

(b)          On second conviction, to a fire of N2,000 or imprisonment for a term of one month or to both. Against the girl child acress, Nigeria are numerous, depending on the states and culture.   

In Nigeria, girls are trafficlied  as prostates  at an early age – the girl-child is also a subject of abuse and exploitation by parents or guardians. They are removed from schools to be engaged in economic activities likes street hooking where they are likely to face abuse and molestation, because they are preferable as house helps. The laws says in section 2(1) of the Education Act the primary and junior secondary school should be free, but the problems of this laws are not working when you go to the government schools (primary and secondary) student pay school fees indirectly ,things PTAs and any student who does pay this fees are asked to go home, the UBE law of free education should be totally enforced, so as to encourage parents to send their girl child to school, instead of marring them early.

Recommendation

(1)          The UBE Act should be enforced properly so as to benefit the girl child.

(2).         The amount imposed on parent who centraven the laws should be increased to N300,000 and N500,000 respectively.

(3)          States that have put in place law which prohibit the withdrawal of children from school should be commended , it should follow that any parent who withdraw her child should be sanctioned.

Policies that will specifically attend the gender gab should be put in place, so as to breach the gender gap.

(4)          School payment  fees should be abolish, three should be free food, free uniforms, which should be used as a strategy for mainstreaming the girl child.

(5).         There should be community awareness on girls –child education, advocacy and sensitization workshop to re-orient item and their parents about he important of girl-child education. In the past, education has not necessary been a priority for the girl-child because of cultural beliefs, poverty and so on it’s not surprising because particularly in the northern part of Nigeria, educating a girl is not allowed to choose education, neither are they encouraged to go to school uptill now, its seen challenging to implement programms that will enbance education of girls and women in the Northern region, particularly in rural communities, since they are not at liberty to get education.

The position of law under the UBE has not being workable in bridging the gaps between girls and boys enrolment in particular and completion of secondary education in general. The need to encourage all girls to be enrolled in school and retain them in school system is important as education not only Improves the work ad self esteem of the girl child but also enables her to became an economically productive woman and delay her marriage age.

To date the disparity between boys and girls envelmet  in secondary education remains a threat to government especially in achieving its MDCr that seek to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education.

Education is the fundamental right of girl-child under the Nigeria law and fulfilling this basic right is the only way to realize other rights of girl-child is not given as much attention as it requires. There is clearly a yawing gap between male and female education in Nigeria that need to be looked into .

Despite the universal basic education (UBE)launch by Nigeria government; the number of girls in school is very law ,forms of discrimination.

(1).         On subsequent conviction, to a five of N500 or imprisonment for a term of two month or to both.

(3)(1)Services provided in public primary and junior secondary schools shall be free of charge.

(3)(2)  A person who receives or obtains any fee contrary to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section commits an offend and a liable on conviction to a fine net exceeding N10,000 or imprisonment for a term of three months or to both.

(4) Every parent shall ensure that his child receive full time education suitable to his age ability and aptitude by regular attendance at school.

It is also said in the Act that section 2(2) and 4(1) shall not apply to any parent who for the time being, is resident outside Nigeria.

Also the provision of section 2&3 of this Act shall not apply to any child who is resident outside Nigeria and who has not received final education.